That little remote packs a whole lot of power. Here's what you never knew about that humble key fob dangling from your keychain.
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Selectively unlock doors
Old-school key fobs only let drivers lock or unlock all four doors at once, but today’s vehicles include a more flexible safety feature. “One of the main things people don’t know is that you can control whether your key fob unlocks all doors or just one,” Moody says. “In the vehicle settings, you can change this in a variety of ways.”
For instance, pressing unlock once can open only the driver’s door, while pressing it twice could unlock all other doors as well. This selective unlocking feature comes standard on most newer vehicles, including popular brands like Toyota, Honda and Ford, as well as high-end makes such as BMW and Audi. If you drive an older model, your fob might not include this option. If you’re unsure whether yours does (or you need help setting it up or adjusting it), check the instructions in your owner’s manual.
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Use it as a backup key
While key fobs are a convenient replacement for traditional keys, many drivers don’t think about what they’d do if theirs suddenly stopped working. After all, they’re battery-operated, and like any battery, they sometimes run out of juice. Other times, they can get damaged and fail. Luckily, automakers have planned for that, and this is one of the secret key-fob features you definitely need to know. “The majority incorporate a tiny mechanical key embedded inside the fob, released by a latch, which can be used to unlock the door if the battery is physically drained,” Knoll says. Some vehicles even feature a secret slot into the vehicle’s design where a dead fob can be inserted, allowing the car to recognize it and start up.
How do you do this, exactly? Let’s use Toyota as an example. If you have a newer car, you’ll slide a small tab on the fob to release a physical key; this key fits into a hidden key cylinder located under a removable cap on the outside of the driver’s door handle on many models. You can then start the car by holding the fob against or very near the start button, pressing the brake and then pushing the button.
Many Ford models work similarly, even without the hidden physical key. You can get the vehicle running by placing the drained fob in the designated backup slot (often located in a pocket inside the center console or in a slot in the steering column) and pressing the start/stop button.
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Tailor your ride
Luxury brands like BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Tesla have really taken key fobs to the next level through personalization by linking fobs to driver profiles. “When a specific fob is detected, the car automatically adjusts mirrors, seat position and even radio presets to match the driver’s preferences,” Waldenback says. “It’s personalization meeting practicality.”
Drivers usually need to configure and save their preferences in the vehicle’s settings menu for automatic recall—a true godsend for those who share their vehicle with multiple family members. With a Tesla Model Y, for instance, if you’ve linked your digital key to a saved driver profile, the car will automatically adjust to your preferred settings when you hop in. And if your spouse has their own linked key, the system will automatically recognize that person and apply their own personalized settings. It’s like magic!
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Start or stop the engine remotely
The remote-start feature on a key fob is an often-overlooked and underrated convenience, according to Waldenback. “By pressing a simple sequence, often double-locking and then holding the start button, you can start your car from afar to warm it up in winter or cool it down in summer,” he says.
It’s all about comfort and ease, but the feature doesn’t bypass safety in the process. To enter the vehicle, the driver still has to use the fob to unlock the doors, so a stranger passing by can’t just jump in and take off. And in many models, even if the car has been remotely started, the driver must have the fob and complete the normal startup process—pressing the brake and start button—to fully engage the engine. These security measures ensure the system recognizes that the authorized driver is present before it can actually move.
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Pop open the tailgate
Picture this: You just pulled into the parking lot where your friends are celebrating football season with a weekend cookout. You grab the cooler from the front seat of your pickup truck, where it’s fully loaded with everything you need to tackle a day of tailgating. You shuffle to the back of the truck to set up your spread, only to realize you need help popping open the tailgate, that rear door that folds down horizontally to create a flat surface for all those snacks. Well, that fob still clutched in your hand can come to the rescue.
Moody explains that many brands, like GMC, Ram and Ford, let you open the tailgate with the fob by pressing the tailgate-release button, usually twice, to unlatch it. “This makes it easier to use the tailgate when your arms are full of cargo, food, beer, soda [or other items],” Moody says.
This handy shortcut can save you from an awkward juggling act—and not just while tailgating at the game. It’s also super useful when your hands are full moving furniture, hauling groceries after a grocery-store run or loading up luggage for a weekend getaway.
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Roll down all your windows
You know that feeling when you hop into your car on scorching-hot day? The windows have been rolled up, trapping the heat and making the air thick and oppressive. But it doesn’t have to be this way—not if you know this handy car key-fob trick. Many fobs offer a global window control to simultaneously roll down windows by pressing and holding the unlock or lock button for a few seconds, so you don’t have to suffer and sweat until the AC kicks in.
“It’s typical across Toyota, Nissan, Ford and BMW vehicles, but usually, it must be activated by going into your car’s settings menu,” Knoll says. That’s important to remember: There generally isn’t a handy window icon on the fob associated with this feature. Instead, once you activate it in settings, the unlock and lock button doubles as the control.
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Fold in side mirrors
If you’ve ever parked on a city street, you know that cars, bikes and pedestrians often cut it a little too close for comfort and can ding your side mirror as they rush past your car. Those mirrors can also get in the way when squeezing into a tight parking spot, and that goes for crowded lots and narrow garages anywhere in the country. But some vehicles, including 2025 models—such as the Audi A5 and Q5, BMW 7 series and Infiniti QX60—make it much easier by letting you fold or retract the side mirrors directly from the key fob. The feature comes in super handy when you’re outside the vehicle and see hazards that are uncomfortably close, helping you ward off a potential problem.
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Raise the roof
Imagine strolling out to your convertible on the perfect summer day. Instead of wrestling with the top manually, drivers of certain high-end models—think Mercedes-Benz and Porsche—can raise or lower the top right from their key fob. Depending on the car, this may be a built-in trick, or you might need to activate it in the car’s settings or pay for an optional upgrade. Manufacturer safety checks make sure the roof won’t open or close unless the car’s in park, so the convenience won’t compromise safety.
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Find your vehicle
Some brands, like Tesla and BMW, allow you to pinpoint your car’s location right in an app, but not all do. The panic button on a key fob is primarily designed to aid in emergencies, but on most key fobs, it doubles as a low-tech lifesaver when your car seems hopelessly lost in a crowded parking lot. “A quick tap flashes the lights or sounds the horn briefly, making your vehicle easy to find without drawing too much attention,” Waldenback says.
Even better? You don’t need a fancy car for this. This car key-fob trick works on any model, as long as it’s not too old-school, from those pre-fob days.
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Skip the fob, and use your phone instead
Surprisingly, some drivers don’t even need the fob that comes with their vehicle. “I would encourage owners of newer cars to investigate installing an app on their car rather than relying on the key fob,” Moody says, noting that these apps can let you check the fuel level, track your car’s location, schedule the air conditioning and check the doors. “The app can tell you the car’s status, such as whether it’s locked or not,” which a traditional key fob can’t do, since it only works when you’re close to the car, he adds.
So does your car have this ability? Maybe! Connected-car apps, such as the FordPass, myChevrolet or My BMW, have become more widespread, particularly in the last seven years or so. Just note that these apps are often make-specific, so there’s not a universal app from a third party to download. They also typically require you to create an account and register with your vehicle’s VIN, and they sometimes require a subscription. The bottom line: It’s definitely worth checking to see if your car offers this feature.
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At Reader’s Digest, we’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. For this piece on secret car key-fob features, Aaron Rasmussen tapped his experience as a longtime travel writer and travel guidebook editor who frequently contributes to Reader’s Digest. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Sources:
- Paul Knoll, marketing director of AmericanTrucks; email interview, October 2025
- Brian Moody, executive editor of Kelley Blue Book; email interview, October 2025
- Lucas Waldenback, co-founder of Zutobi; email interview, October 2025
- Toyota: “How to Start Your Toyota with a Dead Key Fob”
- Ford: “How Do I Unlock My Ford When the Intelligent Access Key Is Not Working?”
- YouTube: “How to Set Up Your Driver Profiles for Customization in Your Tesla Model Y 2025”
